External airbags could be the future

We know airbags inside cars provide significant protection for occupants, but what about things outside the vehicle?

Now, a major parts supplier in the automotive industry, has announced plans to design new safety systems including airbags - for the outside of cars - as well as new restraint systems.

The company says its new designs are part of its Vision Zero concept, the idea of a world without accidents and emissions.

Its most interesting concept, the external airbag, is said to add an additional crumple zone in the event of an accident, externally deploying from the side of the vehicle. ZF says tests have shown it can help reduce the occupant injury severity up to 40 per cent.

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The German manufacturing company says “the future of mobility presents new challenges for occupant safety, combining active and passive safety technology to, for example, trigger airbags immediately before a crash”.

ZF’s head of Passive Safety Systems, Dr Michael Büchsner, says the pre-crash external side airbag is a great example of how ZF wants to achieve its Vision Zero.

“Occupant safety is paramount when developing new vehicles for automated and autonomous driving,” he says.

This isn't the first time external airbags have been thought of. In 2012, Volvo introduced a pedestrian airbag for its V40 hatchback, but it was short-lived and hasn't been used in any other models since as the Swedish car maker wanted to focus on other vehicle safety systems.

Ali is a Motoring Reporter at Drive.com.au. She completed her Journalism degree in 2018 and has a background in the automotive industry.
Ali also has a passion for racing that started in go-karts from an young age, progressing into car racing in 2016…

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2 COMMENTS

shoot the messenger — 28 Nov 2018 21:07

the idea of a world without accidents and emissions.
As soon as you see a comment like this you know you are talking to utter nutters. That's all it& ...
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